Evaluation of struvite as a fertilizer: a comparison with traditional P sources.

摘要

The effectiveness of struvite (insoluble phosphate precipitated from wastewater) as a P source was compared to that of phosphate rock (insoluble), monoammonium phosphate (soluble) and calcium superphosphate (soluble) by providing each to Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) growing in pots. The doses applied with each source were 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 mg of P kg-1 of soil. The plants were cut back six times during the experiment and the dry matter, plant P concentration and accumulation recorded each time. The plant P concentration was greater with all these fertilizers than when no P fertilizer was applied (controls); that achieved with struvite was somewhat greater than that observed with any of the other sources. Increasing the P dose, irrespective of its source, increased plant P concentration and P accumulation at each cutting time, as well as the residual total and available P in the soil after the last cut. No increase was seen, however, in dry matter production. P nutrition with struvite was as effective as with any other source.